Using your health fund at Y3 Smiles Dental

How does claiming work on the day?

1. Bring your card

   Your physical or digital health fund card.

2. We claim through HICAPS

   At the end of your appointment we claim your benefit on the spot.

3. Pay the difference

   You pay any remaining amount on the day, by card. If a claim can't be processed, you get an itemised receipt with item numbers to claim it yourself.

Which health funds can you claim with?

HICAPS works with every Australian private health insurer, so we can claim with almost any fund on the spot, including nib, Bupa, Medibank, HCF, HBF, Australian Unity. See the full list of health funds we accept.

What will my health fund cover?

That depends on your fund, your level of extras cover, your annual limits and any waiting periods. As a guide:

• Check-ups and cleans are usually gap free with general dental extras cover, depending on your level of cover.
• Fillings, root canal treatment, extractions, crowns and dentures usually leave some out-of-pocket cost, even with good cover.
• Major treatment often has longer waiting periods and lower annual limits than check-ups. Implants sit here for most funds, and the limit is usually well below the total, which is worth knowing before you plan one: see what implants cost.

We don't publish rebate amounts, because they depend on your policy. We can give you an estimate, and everything you need to confirm it with your fund.

How do I check my rebate before treatment?

Your written treatment plan lists the ADA item number for each part of your treatment, and it's valid for 30 days. Call your fund, read them the item numbers and ask:

1. "What will I get back for these item numbers?"

   This gives you a figure for your policy rather than a general estimate.

2. "How much of my annual limit is left, and when does it reset?"

   Some funds reset limits on 1 January and others at the start of the financial year. Unused benefits usually don't carry over.

3. "Am I still in a waiting period?"

   New or upgraded extras cover usually has waiting periods, often longer for major treatment.

You can also ask us for a rebate estimate and a written breakdown of any out-of-pocket cost. See how our fees work.

Does a preferred provider always cost less?

Not necessarily. Preferred-provider arrangements are different for each fund. Some funds pay a higher benefit at their network clinics, while others pay the same benefit wherever you go. The only reliable comparison is to ask your fund what you'd get back, using the item numbers on your plan.

Y3 Smiles Dental is part of the nib First Choice network. For all other funds we claim on the spot through HICAPS in the same way.

Can I see the clinic and ask about my cover first?

Yes. Book a free discovery session with our patient coordinator: use the booking form and write "free discovery session" in the message, or call us. Bring your health fund card and your questions. It isn't a clinical appointment, so there's no examination. A check-up with a dentist is a separate paid appointment.

What if I don't have private health insurance?

• Children: eligible children are bulk billed under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule.
• Veterans: Veteran Gold Card holders usually have cover for dental care. See DVA dental care.
• Spreading the cost: Afterpay and humm are available. See payment plans.
• Public dental: with a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, DPV Health in Broadmeadows provides general and emergency dental care, with a waiting list.

Treatment plans at Y3 Smiles Dental in Broadmeadows are prepared by our dentists, led by principal dentist Dr Fatima Kurnaz.